Wolverine Barcode IP, LLC v. Albertsons Companies, Inc. Patent

Case Filing Date: 2025-06-06

Patent Number	Organic/Acquired	Forward Citation Count	Family Size	Independent Word Count
US9280689	Acquired	2	3	276

Patent Summary	Independent Claim
US9280689 A method allowing offline commerce transactions using unique barcodes for personal identification is provided. Users can convert a personal number, like a phone or credit card number, into a distinguishable barcode enabling quick storage and identification for purchases. This invention promotes secure and seamless offline transactions, enhancing consumer convenience and vendor transparency.	1. A method for conducting offline electronic commerce transactions having a vendor barcode scanner and a vendor cash register comprising: (a) providing a personal code to a person for their use to purchase goods; (b) converting said personal code into barcode format to form a User ID Barcode, said User ID Barcode corresponding to said personal code and including at least one special character to distinguish the barcode as a User ID Barcode from a product barcode; (c) storing said personal code in said User ID Barcode format by said person for use to purchase goods and storing said personal code in a User Vendor Management Server to permit purchases to be made at a vendor; (d) establishing a User Account in a User Vendor Management Server corresponding to said personal code; (e) depositing funds in said User Account to establish a credit limit; (f) conducting purchases at vendors each having a vendor server wherein each purchase includes scanning product barcodes including product price and said User ID Barcode with a product barcode scanner at the vendor cash register and transmitting both product barcodes and User ID Barcode to said vendor server; (g) detecting the User ID Barcode at the vendor server and forwarding the ID Barcode and purchase price to said User Vendor Management Server; (h) comparing the purchase price with the funds in said User Vendor Management Server to determine if there are available funds within the credit limit in the User Vendor Management Server account, and if there are, sending an approval signal to the vendor server; (i) forwarding the approval signal to the vendor cash register; and (i) repeating steps (f) through (i) for subsequent purchase transactions using said User ID Barcode.

Patent Summary

Independent Claim

US9280689

A method allowing offline commerce transactions using unique barcodes for personal identification is provided. Users can convert a personal number, like a phone or credit card number, into a distinguishable barcode enabling quick storage and identification for purchases. This invention promotes secure and seamless offline transactions, enhancing consumer convenience and vendor transparency.

1. A method for conducting offline electronic commerce transactions having a vendor barcode scanner and a vendor cash register comprising:
(a) providing a personal code to a person for their use to purchase goods;
(b) converting said personal code into barcode format to form a User ID Barcode, said User ID Barcode corresponding to said personal code and including at least one special character to distinguish the barcode as a User ID Barcode from a product barcode;
(c) storing said personal code in said User ID Barcode format by said person for use to purchase goods and storing said personal code in a User Vendor Management Server to permit purchases to be made at a vendor;
(d) establishing a User Account in a User Vendor Management Server corresponding to said personal code;
(e) depositing funds in said User Account to establish a credit limit;
(f) conducting purchases at vendors each having a vendor server wherein each purchase includes scanning product barcodes including product price and said User ID Barcode with a product barcode scanner at the vendor cash register and transmitting both product barcodes and User ID Barcode to said vendor server;
(g) detecting the User ID Barcode at the vendor server and forwarding the ID Barcode and purchase price to said User Vendor Management Server;
(h) comparing the purchase price with the funds in said User Vendor Management Server to determine if there are available funds within the credit limit in the User Vendor Management Server account, and if there are, sending an approval signal to the vendor server;
(i) forwarding the approval signal to the vendor cash register;
and (i) repeating steps (f) through (i) for subsequent purchase transactions using said User ID Barcode.

Litigation

Wolverine Barcode IP, LLC v. Albertsons Companies, Inc. Patent